Segment: Confession

Under Monitoring

Lyle' s P.O.V

As soon as I was out of the hospital, they immediately called everyone in for a meeting. But it was only Mr. Taylor facing us. It seems the others were busy and couldn't make it but Mr. Taylor's face, it was confusing. He was somewhat happy that he was the only one facing us today.

The doctor told me to use a wheelchair. It was fine by me since my wound kept on opening and both my arms are injured. The wheelchair has a control on the side for moving and backing. It was nice to have something I have control over.

We all sit down on the long side table while Mr. Taylor sat in front. He was serious, and I could tell by how his brows were knitted together and wasn't even sparing us a glance.

"Trust Mr. Taylor,"

I wonder what she meant by that. Does Mr. Taylor know the person? Who is Mr. Taylor? Why is everything so goddamn confusing? It's like the answer it right in front of me but I can't grasp it nor hold it. I can't even reach it.

"Is everyone here already?"

"Yes, Mr. Taylor." I answered.

He brings his elbows on the table and leaned a little forward, looking at each of us in the face.

"I want you all to remember that everything here will be recorded and sent to the others, is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir." we all answered.

As Mr. Taylor said that, he looked at me intently and then to Jamie. He's obviously hinting to us to not say anything unnecessary. Something like what that future me said.

"Then let's start the meeting. It seems that your mission will be under over the table for now. The others wanted to investigate further of what happened. President, what were the motives of the hostiles?" Mr. Taylor turns to me. Everyone turned to me, all the attention inside the room.

Be sure to not say anything unnecessary.

"The hostiles threatened us, Jamie and I, if we don't cancel the said mission."

"Was there anything else?"

"Yes, the hostiles said that if the best fighter System has is crippled, then the System won't have anyone else to send to the mission that will stand a chance.

"Hmm. Who did you fight with?"

"I couldn't identify the individual since the person was wearing a mask that covered only to the eyes."

The room fell into silence. It was weird. Everyone waited for Mr. Taylor's next question or announcement. My stomach started churning. What she told me kept on replaying in my head. Trust? Why?

"Understood. Then has the hostile said anything else?"

"She didn't, Sir."

Mr. Taylor is careful with his words. He probably knows that it's a she. He knows who she is. Is he working behind System?

"Alright. Since this is a pre-discussed issue with the other superiors, Jamie and Lyle will stay behind for monitoring." Jamie and I looked at each other before turning our heads to Mr. Taylor.

"But President needs rest, Sir." Samantha says in disagreement.

"Is she not allowed to take a rest?" Allie says, her voice full of concern.

"Jamie still hasn't recovered yet." Gerald says in retort.

"Unfortunately, my own decisions aren't the only ones that matter."

"But why are they under monitoring?" Joyce says, her question provocative.

"System is placing them under monitoring and that's it. Everyone else not mentioned, dismissed."

"Understood, Sir." they all said and stood up.

They pass by Jamie and patted him in the back and did the same to me. Joyce was the last and gave me a look that I know all too well. I sigh and looked away.

When they were gone, Mr. Taylor disabled the recording and sighed. He rubs his forehead and looked at Jamie and I before looking at his watch.

"The others are doubting you both. They think that the hostiles said something to you and decided to place you under suspicions."

Why is he telling us this?

"Then they must know who." Mr. Taylor looks at me.

"Yes."

"But it's confidential," I finished his statement for him.

"It is. You both will be held in separate locations. Since the President was the one who got to fight and talk one on one with the assailant, she is placed under two weeks of monitoring. As for Jamie, a week will suffice"

Two weeks, huh?

"What will they do to us, Sir? Knowing how System runs, they won't just sit and observe."

"As a thank you, I will tell you. You both will be branded."

"Branded?" Jamie exclaimed.

"You mean the metal, with, uh, like a slave?" he closes his eyes and sighs before nodding.

Mr. Taylor was worked up. He was also as restless as Jamie was. Branding two students under monitoring. They weren't joking anymore. If they were ready to do this, then they must be ready to dispose of us. Deporting may not be the final answer to our expulsion but death.

Just what did I get myself into?

"It seems so."

"What? That can't be. Aren't our injuries enough?"

"The others are afraid that the hostiles somehow persuaded you and commanded you to gather intel on System while you stick around."

That could be the reason why she didn't tell me anything. This was what she meant. She was right on not telling me anything besides saying to trust Mr. Taylor? It was so to have an anchor to live life despite being treated like trash, like a slave.

She made sure not to tell me anything to not worsen my punishment since she knows that conversing with her already costs so much. She's one heck of a person. If she was one of us, what position was she? How did she end up there? Aren't all toys of the System going to graduate as one of the elites after?

We're the second batch of the toys of System, so she must be one of the first batch. If I dig up information now, they will surely tail me and place me under investigation again.

"That's absurd." Jamie panics.

"The President will come out as a changed woman after the monitoring."

It must not be a good change then if he's phrasing it like that. Jamie grits his teeth and looks at me, worried.

"I'll be fine, Jamie. You protect Michelle and Amelia."

"President, I'm sorry." I shake my head.

"Don't be. If you went up against her, she'll come to me anyway, then we'll both have equal punishments."

I look at Mr. Taylor's watch.

"Sir, are you perhaps acquainted?"

He was on call. There was someone listening. He made sure that I know that. Is it the one who crippled me? Is there someone else? I look at Mr. Taylor and he was also looking at me. He didn't even turn off the call even though I know.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Commander."

Ah, that's a nickname that I haven't heard in a long time.

"When are we moving out, Mr. Taylor?" he shifts his attention to the panicked Jamie.

"Tomorrow. A vehicle will be sent to you individually at either."

"Most of my clothes are gone, Mr. Taylor."

"Don't worry. You need only to bring yourself. If you bring other things, it will be, with certainty, get broken."

"Understood."

"Then, dismissed."

"Thank you, Sir."

Jamie stands up while I control my wheelchair to face the door about to the enjoy the rest of the day but Mr. Taylor had a different plan for me.

"You go ahead, Jamie."

"Alright, President." Jamie exits the room and I face Mr. Taylor again.

"Will you spend the rest of your day with Amelia?"

"I will gladly accept that as a command, Sir."

"I'm asking you as Lyle."

"You're telling me, Sir that I have a choice?"

"Yes," his voice sounded hesitant and doubting. In fact, maybe a bit nervous.

I did owe Amelia. I told her that we would do something that she wanted after all that.

I've got no choice then.

"Where is Amelia, Mr. Taylor?" he heaves a sigh.

"She's in her dormitory since the manor is in reconstruction and our place is hours away." I'm not sure why he told me that but okay.

"I understand, Sir. I will go and see Amelia now."

"Thank you, President." I'm not sure if I'm worth thanking though.

"It's my job, Sir."

Our meeting hall was close to our dormitory so it wasn't a hassle. I used the elevator to go up Amelia's floor. She was two floors above mine. The elevator chimed, signaling that I arrived. I exit the elevator and went to knock on Amelia's door.

I knock three times before she answered. She opens the door, her face sullen and her eyes puffy. She was crying, it was obvious. She was also crying when I saw her after the fight. I want to cry to but I think, for myself, that it's a waste of time and a waste of energy.

"Hey," I say to her.

She didn't say anything. She stood there, staring at me.

Was she not expecting me?

"Why are you here?"

"For a moment there I thought you used up all your voice from crying." she hastily wipes her tears from the side of her cheeks and sniffs one last time before combing her little messy hair.

Her face was now not so messy except for the puffy eyes.

"Aren't you supposed to be resting?"

"You look like a pufferfish." she rolls her eyes and steps aside. I move the controller forward and I enter Amelia's deluxe dormitory.

It's so much larger than the one I have. I should've thought about it when I noticed how big the gaps were in between rooms when I made my way here.

"You need rest, Lyle."

But they're not giving it to me, Amelia so I better erase that from my dictionary from now on.

"And you need to stop crying."

She closes the door and sits on her couch. There's even a whole living room here, complete with TV, AC, couches, mini table, and even two other doors. Wow. This is so much different. More different. Is this what it means to be rich?

"I can't." she looks at my wheelchair then to my injuries. I laugh nervously.

"Why? Your beautiful face will be ruined."

"I'm not in the mood to joke, Lyle." I gulped.

Wrong move.

"What do you want me to do, Amelia?" she brings her eyes to stare in to mine.

She's sucking me in with her eyes. There it was again, the pulling. I look away before I do something wolf-like even in this situation. Crazy how I'm so sexually active and already ready to pounce in front of Amelia. Look at how sexy she is. She's wearing incredibly short fabric shorts and a tight tank top.

She brought her legs up and hugged them, looking away. Her breasts were squished, making them seem more larger than they already were. They look so freaking soft that I want to bury my head in between her breasts. That would be so comforting.

"I want you to rest."

"Is that what you want me to do when I said it before the fight?"

"No, that's different. You still need to fulfill that."

Look at that, Amelia Taylor being a selfish person.

"Okay then. Can you wait for two weeks?" that caught her attention. She looks at me and pops her head.

"Two weeks? Why two weeks?"

"I'm under monitoring." her brows knit together.

"What? You need to recover first."

"I move out tomorrow at 0800."

"That's too early." I was surprised a rich girl like her would know a military hour reading.

"Meh,"

"Then sleep here with me."

That is not an option for me.

"Amelia, you'll squish my wounds. Plus, it's still daytime." she shakes her head.

"I'll sleep on the edge."

THAT'S EVEN MORE ABSURD.

"No, no. My room is just two floors down, I can just-"

"I promise I won't disturb you, touch you. Just stay here. At least I know you're resting."

Why is Amelia so caring for me? Why is she cold to everyone else? Deep down I know already. But I can't accept her. Actually, it's the other way around. Why? Why me? I want to ask her. My mind forming the question but my mouth is not cooperating.

I don't want to cut short our conversation when it comes to this topic.

But do I have the time even after two weeks? Won't I be bombarded with missions?

"Don't be like that Amelia. Can we go to your room?" she nods and guides me to one of the two doors.

She opens the door and almost immediately, I could smell her strawberry scent. It magically levitated me to the bed. I can actually move my legs, they just want to make sure that I use them as little as possible. Plus, there's a cast on my arm. She broke me good.

I walk to the bed and lay there as if it was my own. It was so soft and comfortable that I felt sleepy but there was something missing. I look at Amelia and she was standing at the door, keeping her distance.

"Can you lay with me?"

"I won't touch you, Lyle."

"Then can I ask of you, as a request, to lay with me?" she looked hesitant and she did hesitate. Her eyes moved back and forth before laying on the opposite of me.

She was on her side so her back was facing me. I edge closer to her. I wrap my arm beneath her, to her stomach. She flinches and tenses. I didn't move. She finally relaxes and sighs. My cast was on my side, I made sure it won't be touched.

"Lyle," she breathes.

"Can you turn around, Amelia?"

"Okay," she turns around slowly.

I was face to face with her. I move downwards until my face was in front of her breasts. They look like firm jelly. I bury my face in between her breasts and I let out a contented smile.

"So fluffy," my words were muffled but I know she heard it.

She plays with my short hair, making me drift faster to sleep.

"Strawberry scent," I mumble before I finally fell asleep.

"Chrelia or Amelia?"

"Both of them are good to me though."

"Chrelia is confusing."

"But so is Amelia."

"You know what Amelia wants. Stop playing dumb."

"I'm not."

"You know you like Amelia too, as Chrelia."

"I need to know what's confusing me about Chrelia."

"She's playing you."

"She's just conflicted."

"You're supposed to be smart."

"Say what you want, my decision is final."

"You'll regret digging deeper."

"Shut up"

I woke up without a hint of sleepiness left. I was still in front of Amelia's breasts. I look up and see Amelia peacefully sleeping. Her long lashes were black, her straight nose and perfect skin. I saw pictures of the people years before, they had pores and some had pimples, but our generation right now. They found something to prevent all that from happening, thus the perfect skin face.

But Amelia's face was really perfect with the right proportions. She is a goddess in human form, that's what I believe and to think of what she wants, I'm not too convinced. I slowly detach myself from her embrace and slid my arm out gently from underneath her.

After I successfully removed everything that's attached to her, I got up the bed and opened the door before sitting on my wheelchair.

I wonder if they'll break my wheelchair.

I glance at Amelia one last time before exiting her room.

"I got to admit, it was a nice rest and long too."

The elevator chimed signaling that I was already at the lobby. I had about a few more minutes before someone is sent to get me so I decided to stroll around the garden behind the dormitory. It's a sunny day out. The birds are chirping, some autumn flowers are blooming.

"Good morning," a voice behind me alerts me and I instantly turned my wheelchair around.

If this is a hostile, this wheelchair is not good for battle.

"Chrelia?"

Huh. I had a funny dream and now I'm facing the subject of my dream.

"Hello, what are you doing so early without school?"

She was in a baby pink sundress up to her knees. Her figure looked young in that sundress. Her skin glowing under the sun, she even had a pink hat to match everything. It made me smile. Her innocence was radiating and shining.

"Good morning. I'm just strolling around." she approaches me with a smile while holding her hat with her hand.

"I haven't thanked you enough for saving us that day."

"Oh, it's no big deal really." I reciprocated her innocent smile.

"Do you have time? I want to treat you to dinner for saving us."

Dinner with Chrelia? Oh, I want to to go so bad.

I chuckle sullenly.

"Uhm, I'm busy for two weeks, sorry."

"I can wait."

Chrelia is giving me mixed signals and I don't know what to do.

"Are you sure? Two weeks is quite, you know." she places her hand on top of mine, making me feel all jittery inside.

This woman is killing me.

"I'm quite sure. I want to thank you really. Waiting is the least I can do."

"Alright then."

"I'll see you then?" I grin, my heart full of warmth.

"I will see you then."

"Alright then. Bye," she gives me one last smile before walking deeper into the garden.

My smile didn't fade even though she was already out of my sight. A dinner with Chrelia. A dinner with my crush. Ah, I can't be too happy. Wait, I still need to do something. I need to make sure and know why Chrelia is like that. The conversation we had at the lagoon was still bothering me.

"Oh, it's almost time."

I turn around and wheelchair my way to the entrance of the dormitory. There, a black van was parked in front. A man wearing a black suit with an ear piece and black glasses awaits. I approach the van. The man notices me and opens the door.

I stand up and dragged my wheelchair along when he yanks the wheelchair from me and throws it to the wall, breaking it as a result.

He didn't need to be aggressive.

"Let's go." he says coldly.